How to Eat a Watermelon Tutorial (SLYT) was made by Tom Willett, a 74 year old semi-retired comedian, musician, and actor. Willett's personal website, Comedy Parade, includes style and character-building tips for budding comedians, interspersed with tributes to comedians he admires. This recent interview with Willett comes off the heels of the watermelon eating tutorial video's viral success.

When asked why he continues to film videos of his skits, comedic news broadcasts and songs instead of “retiring,” he said it‘s because he hasn’t changed from the 14 year old who decided to throw all of his ambition into being an entertainer.
“I’m basically the same person I was when I was 14 — inside. I haven‘t changed what I like and I never do what you’re supposed to do. I do what feels right.”

[[spoiler]] I hope adding peanut butter was the comedy part.posted by theredpen at 6:37 AM on August 20, 2012

It's funny because he takes ten minutes to explain stuff that should take 15 seconds. He should be a lawyer.posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 7:17 AM on August 20, 2012

You gonna finish that tutorial?posted by Splunge at 7:20 AM on August 20, 2012

Seems like a nice guy. Maybe my humor node is broken this morning? Is this viral because it's genuinely good comedy or is it one of those mean-spirited "ironic funny" things?posted by Doleful Creature at 7:51 AM on August 20, 2012 [1 favorite]

I can't speak to why it's gone viral (apart from the fact that I found his sincerity juxtaposed with the surreality of his rules to be hilarious), but I don't think it's mean-spirited, no.posted by catch as catch can at 8:14 AM on August 20, 2012 [1 favorite]

Watermelon eating was practically a religious ritual with my extended family when I was growing up. I met my husband-from a different area of the country-and he confirmed that with his father, watermelon eating was practically a religious ritual as well.

This video surprises me not at all. It's practically a theological treatise on watermelon consumption.posted by St. Alia of the Bunnies at 11:39 AM on August 20, 2012

I watched the video this morning. I wanted to fast-forward, to skip through to the punchline, but somehow I could not; I kept watching it through all the way to the end, only to find that really, there was no punchline.

As I did so, two thoughts kept running through my head:

First, my dad would have enjoyed this very much, if he were still alive (except the "no salt" part, and that's all that needs to be said on that).

Second, the delivery kept reminding me of someone, but for the life of me I could not figure out who. Not Marlon Perkins. Not Mr. Wizard nor Mr. Rogers. Nor Colonel Sherman T. Potter nor Harvey Korman, or any of the gray-haired staples of my childhood TV memories.

When I came back to reread the post, it finally came to me: he has the delivery of Johnny Carson. But an even more slowed-down, absurdist sort of Johnny Carson. Kind of like Johnny Carson mixed with Samuel Beckett.

I'm glad I'm not the only person who didn't see the funny. I have a lot of time on my hands right now and I still thought it was paced too slow to be interesting.posted by chairface at 12:34 PM on August 20, 2012 [1 favorite]

Tags

Share

About MetaFilter

MetaFilter is a weblog that anyone can contribute a link or a comment to. A typical weblog is one person posting their thoughts on the unique things they find on the web. This website exists to break down the barriers between people, to extend a weblog beyond just one person, and to foster discussion among its members.